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Sumit SinghalSumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Szervita Square Tower in Budapest, Hungary by ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS

A transparent tower and surrounding public square, Szervita Square moves away from closed forms and perimeter blocks to create a building and urban landscape that is porous, accessible and welcoming. A structure that extends Budapest’s rich architectural heritage, is inherently ‘in context’, yet also marks a radical new approach.

A transparent tower and surrounding public square, Szervita Square moves away from closed forms and perimeter blocks to create a building and urban landscape that is porous, accessible and welcoming. A structure that extends Budapest’s rich architectural heritage, is inherently ‘in context’, yet also marks a radical new approach.

Image Courtesy ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS

Our new tower and surrounding public square adds to the striking Budapest cityscape, providing a landmark structure and new gathering place – connected to the city’s other public areas and welcoming to both those using the building and those passing by.

Image Courtesy ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS

The light, the combination of landscapes, the space – all inspired a design that moves away from closed forms and the perimeter blocks that generally constitute this city. In their place, we envisaged public zones that are inherently porous and connected to the ‘archipelago’ of open spaces which punctuates Budapest.

Image Courtesy ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS

The Szervita Tower fits naturally within its architectural context. A transparent structure, it stands in striking contrast to the solidity that defines surrounding structures. Budapest has a rich architectural tradition and the square itself contains high quality buildings from many different periods. Our design extends this lineage, yet at the same time marks a radical new approach – a bold step forward.